Eutechnyx Explained

Eutechnyx Limited
Type:Private
Foundation:[1]
Location City:Newcastle upon Tyne
Location Country:England
Key People:Darren Jobling [2]
Industry:Video games

Eutechnyx Limited (formerly Zeppelin Games Limited, until 1994, and Merit Studios (Europe) Limited, until 1997) is a British video game developer based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Since 1997, the company has focused on racing games. They are known for their largely panned video game , work with the NASCAR The Game franchise, and as a developer on various other racing titles and games.[3] [4]

History

Zeppelin Games (1987–1994)

The company founder, Brian Jobling, started creating games for the Atari 8-bit computers, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 at home in the early 1980s as a 14-year-old.[5] With the money that he made, he started the company, Zeppelin Games, in November 1987 when he was 17.[6] Zeppelin Games produced a large number of games for various home computer systems including Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST and Amiga and by the early 90s were also making games for IBM PC compatibles and consoles such as the Mega Drive/Genesis and SNES. Popular games included Jocky Wilson's Darts Challenge, International Tennis, Universal Warrior and Sink or Swim. They also worked with publisher Codemasters to produce the first two Micro Machines games and Pete Sampras Tennis.

The company, being primarily a budget publisher, operated several labels for different price ranges; among them were Cognito[7] [8] and Impulze[9] for full-price releases, Zeppelin Premier and Zeppelin Platinum.

Merit Studios Europe (1994–1996)

The company was acquired by American company Merit Studios, Inc. in 1994 and became known as Merit Studios Europe.[10] As well as developing their own games, the company was also responsible for the marketing and distribution of Merit's US games in Europe.

Eutechnyx (1996–present)

The company became Eutechnyx in 1996. After gaining registered developer and publisher status for the Sony PlayStation, the directors bought back the company from Merit with help from French publishers Infogrames. This started a 3-year agreement with Eutechnyx developing exclusively for Infogrames on the PlayStation and PC platforms. The end of this agreement meant that as of 2000, the company became a fully independent developer and currently releases games across many formats for publishing companies such as Electronic Arts and Namco.[11] [12] Since 1996, the company has specialised in driving and racing games of many types, including licensed titles such as James Bond 007, Max Power, Cartoon Network and The Fast and the Furious.

As of 2009, Eutechnyx had studios in Gateshead, England; Hong Kong; Chengdu; and the United States. It employed almost 200 people.

After the failure of Ride to Hell: Retribution, the London studio was closed in June 2013. In June 2013, several employees were loaned to Ubisoft Reflections and in February 2014, a restructuring was announced, with the loss of 12 jobs, taking the headcount to 130.[13]

In 2012, sister company ZeroLight was formed at the Gateshead offices, to apply the realtime rendering technology developed for racing games to showroom and online configurators for car manufacturers.

In October 2013, Darren Jobling replaced his brother Brian as CEO, to take on a more active role in development, with Brian becoming Executive Chairman.[14]

In July 2014, again after the failure of Warhammer 40k: Storm of Vengeance, following another re-structuring an additional 19 members of staff were lost.[15]

In January 2015, their NASCAR license were given to Dusenberry Martin Racing, while Eutechnyx continued to develop their final NASCAR title, NASCAR '15, for DMR; subsequent NASCAR titles by them (since renamed 704Games and purchased by Motorsport Network) were developed by Monster Games (until the 2019 title NASCAR Heat 4) instead.[16] In July 2015, following commercially disappointing results from ambitious multiplayer online racing game ACR, a further 8 redundancies were made, with some of the 22 people announced as being added to sister firm ZeroLight, being relocated from Eutechnyx.[17]

In September 2016, Zerolight moved across the river from Eutechnyx' Gateshead office to LiveWorks, on the Quayside at Newcastle upon Tyne.[18]

Games developed

as Zeppelin Games

as Merit Studios Europe

as Eutechnyx

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eutechnyx Limited - Overview (free company information from Companies House) . Beta.companieshouse.gov.uk . 2019-01-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171210021424/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02172322 . 10 December 2017 . live .
  2. Web site: Eutechnyx reveals new leadership structure . 24 October 2013 . MCV . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203072449/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/eutechnyx-reveals-new-leadership-structure/0123105 . 3 December 2013 . 3 December 2013.
  3. Web site: Gateshead game developer Eutechnyx sells NASCAR computer game in multi-mullion pound game. The Journal. The Journal. 12 June 2015.
  4. Web site: Eutechnyx's overhaul of free-to-play Auto Club Revolution adds VR support for Oculus Rift. Venturebeat. 14 May 2014. Venturebeat. 2 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150616190557/http://venturebeat.com/2014/05/14/eutechnyx-aims-high-with-its-free-to-play-auto-club-revolution-car-racing-game/. 16 June 2015. live.
  5. News: Wray . Richard . Video games developer Eutechnyx shows the value of self-help . The Guardian . 13 November 2009 . 14 November 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150216215140/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/nov/13/business-startups-eutechnyx-zeppelin-games . 16 February 2015 . live .
  6. Web site: Company History. Eutechnyx. https://web.archive.org/web/20071030183855/http://www.eutechnyx.com/aboutUs/companyHistory.aspx. 30 October 2007. 6 March 2009.
  7. Rixon . Paul . 26 January 1989 . Draconus . . 36 . Software reviews . 47 . 0952-4967 . 1 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160406140801/https://archive.org/details/page6-magazine-36 . 6 April 2016 . live .
  8. 28 September 1989 . Ad for Kenny Dalglish Soccer Manager . . 40 . 23 . 0952-4967 . 1 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160326055113/https://archive.org/details/page6-magazine-40 . 26 March 2016 . live .
  9. August 2013 . In Pole Position - Zeppelin Games . . 119 . 62 . 1742-3155 . 1 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150702113448/http://www.retrogamer.net/profiles/company/zepplin-games/ . 2 July 2015 . live .
  10. Web site: 6 July 1994 . MERIT SOFTWARE INC. FINALIZES ACQUISITION OF ZEPPELIN GAMES LIMITED . The Free Library . 19 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140819221813/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/MERIT+SOFTWARE+INC.+FINALIZES+ACQUISITION+OF+ZEPPELIN+GAMES+LIMITED-a015534476 . 19 August 2014 . live .
  11. Web site: Eutechnyx Company Profile 2009 . 2009 . Eutechnyx - Press and Marketing Portal . Eutechnyx . 20 February 2011 .
  12. Web site: Eutechnyx at IGN. IGN. 11 April 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090204102954/http://games.ign.com/objects/026/026300.html. 4 February 2009. dead.
  13. Web site: Layoffs hit NASCAR, Auto Club Revolution developer Eutechnyx. Yin-Poole. Wesley. 19 February 2014. Eurogamer. Gamer Network. 19 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221100555/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-02-19-layoffs-hit-nascar-auto-club-revolution-developer-eutechnyx. 21 February 2014. live.
  14. Web site: Eutechnyx announces new leadership structure. Eutechnyx. 31 October 2013. 28 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161001213827/http://www.eutechnyx.com/news/eutechnyx-announces-new-executive-leadership-structure. 1 October 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  15. Web site: 19 jobs in doubt as racing experts Eutechnyx re-structures. MCV UK. 5 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150704134328/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/19-jobs-in-doubt-as-racing-experts-eutechnyx-re-structures/0135570. 4 July 2015. dead. dmy-all.
  16. Web site: Good. Owen S.. NASCAR makes current-gen console debut this fall with NASCAR Heat Evolution. Polygon. Vox Media. May 21, 2016. May 20, 2016.
  17. Web site: 22 new jobs at ZeroLight as sister firm Eutechnyx downsizes. GamesIndustryBiz. 23 July 2015. 28 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161012070854/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2015-07-23-zerolight-growth-as-eutechnyx-downsizes. 12 October 2016. live.
  18. Web site: zerolight-moves-headquarters. Zerolight. 17 August 2016. 28 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161002082554/http://zerolight.com/news/press-releases/zerolight-moves-headquarters-to-multi-million-pound-live-works-development-on-newcastle-quayside. 2 October 2016. live.

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